A reality check - How Israel became God's people -
Israel exists as a people because of a promise made long ago by God to Abraham and His descendants (Gen. 12-17).
Israel's would have ceased to exist as a people during a great famine had God not used the sins of their forefathers (selling their brother Joseph) to provide a miraculous salvation for His people (Gen. 37-50).
God brings Israel out of Egypt after four hundred years of slavery because of His promise to Abraham (Exod. 2:24).
God uses means that are 100% of His power and for His glory as He delivers Israel, in spite of their initial reluctance to be delivered (Exod. 5:21)
In the passage below we pick up the story as Israel has already witnessed the many plagues God brought on Egypt to deliver them and they are currently experiencing His presence as He leads them by a cloud in the day and pillar of fire by night (Exod. 13:21-22).
If God is going to take their faith and/or works into account, or if He expects their salvation to come by a synergistic cooperation between Him and them - would they be delivered at all!
Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (NKJV)
God's plan to glorify Himself in saving Israel and further judging Egypt will not be held hostage by Israel's fear, sinful attitude, or lack of power to deliver themselves. Rather, they are told to "stand still" and "hold their peace" ("hush up" is a good synonym), as they watch God bring salvation totally by His hand - again!
Synergism, where God does His part and man does His part, does not seem to be God's way of deliverance for Israel and I hope it is not His way for saving me!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
This is truly a GREAT example of what the old fathers of the reformation knew- that man's Salvation comes TOTALLY by God's Grace alone, by His might alone, according to His will alone, for His Glory alone! Would we only have a true hunger for His Word, It along-side the Holy Spirit would readily reveal this truth. The book of Exodus is filled with shadows of Christ and His attonement (Passover, etc.) and these precios verses are no exception. Thank you for sharing this, as we can all find great Encouragement in them. tj
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